Aggies Win Streak Snapped in Series Opener at Tennessee, 7-4

Friday, April 20

Knoxville, Tenn.

5:30 p.m.

Texas A&M

28-10, 8-8

Tennessee

23-17, 6-10

Texas A&M

Tennessee

Apr 20, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score - UT 7, A&M 4

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – No. 14 Texas A&M battled back from an early 3-0 deficit to tie the game, but four late runs by the Tennessee Volunteers spelled doom in a 7-4 loss for the Aggies in the series opener Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The loss snapped the Aggies' seven-game win streak. The Maroon & White moved to 28-10 overall and 8-8 in the SEC. Tennessee improved to 23-17 overall and 6-10 in league play.

Tennessee scored three runs in the first inning, but Texas A&M battled back to tie the game with two runs in the third and one on the fifth. The Volunteers wouldn't be denied, putting up single runs in the sixth and seventh and two runs in the eighth.

Mitchell Kilkenny (8-1) was saddled with his first loss of the year. He was doomed by three runs in the first inning, but settled in, battling through 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight.

The first three hitters in the in order drove the bus for the Aggies, going a combined 7-for-11 with one walk, one double and three home runs, one hit by each. Michael Helman batted 3-for-3 with one walk, one stolen base, one double and one home run. Logan Foster was 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs scored. Braden Shewmake batted 2-for-4 with one home run.

NEXT UP
The Aggies and Volunteers return to action Saturday with a 5:02 p.m. contest at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | After going 17 games without yielding a first inning run, the Maroon & White surrendered tallies in the opening frame for the second consecutive game. Jay Charleston started the game with a single to rightfield and stole second base on strike three to Justin Ammons. Pete Derkay plated Charleston with a single through the right side and with two outs, Andre Lipcius hit a two-run home run to right-center. UT 3, A&M 0.

T3 | Four two-out hits got the Aggies back into the game. After a George Janca strikeout and Cam Blake groundout, Helman blasted a solo dinger to leftfield to break the scoring seal. Foster bounced a single up the middle, Shewmake singled over the shifted second baseman into rightfield and Hunter Coleman knocked in Foster with a single to leftfield. UT 3, A&M 2.

T5 | Helman led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line, but he was picked off at second early in Foster's at-bat. Foster blasted his eight home run of the season to right-center on an 0-1 pitch. A&M 3, UT 3.

B6 | With one out, Nico Macia was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Lipcius bounced a single up the middle. UT 4, A&M 3.

B7 | Brodie Leftridge greeted reliever Cason Sherrod with a home run to leftfield on a 2-2 pitch to start the frame. UT 5, A&M 3.

T8 | Shewmake fouled off five two-strike pitches before hitting a leadoff home run down the leftfield line. UT 5, A&M 4.

B8 | The Volunteers took advantage of an Aggie error to score two insurance runs. Derkey hit a leadoff double down the leftfield line. Mascia attempted to put down a sacrifice bunt, but catcher Cole Bedford pounced on it and gunned the ball third to start a run-down. Third baseman Janca threw to second where Shewmake was covering, but the ball was muffed and rolled into centerfield, allowing the two runners to move into scoring position. Lipcius was intentionally walked to load the bases. Derkay came home on a balk and Will Heflin, pinch-running for Mascia, scored on a sac fly by Evan Russell. UT 7, A&M 4.